Portable seat

ABSTRACT

A portable seat for securement between the upper ends of two ski poles having their respective longitudinal axes crossing at an intersecting point to distribute the load on the seat substantially along the longitudinal axes of the ski poles, said portable seat comprising a sheet of flexible material, an elongated cylindrical member retained in each end edge of said sheet, each said end edge having a loop formed therein by overlapping and securing said sheet material, said cylindrical members maintaining said sheet extended widthwise when a load is applied on said sheet and permitting said seat to be folded upon itself for storage in a clothing pocket, a cord like member secured from the ends of respective cylindrical members and connectable between the upper ends of said two ski poles to maintain said sheet extended lengthwise, said cord like member extending a predetermined distance from a respective one of said end edges to its attachment point on said upper end of said two ski poles.

United States Patent [191 Fagen et 21.

Sept. 2, 1975 PORTABLE SEAT [76] Inventors: Ronald Fagen, 6731 LouisPasteur;

Steven H. Deckelbaum, 4760 Cote des Neiges, both of Montreal, Calif.,Canada [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 426,095

[52] US. Cl 280/1l.37 E; 5/123; 297/129 [51] Int. Cl. A63C 11/00 [58Field of Search..280/1 1.37 E, 11.37 J, 11.37 R, 280/7.1; 297/217, 5,6,129, 463, 452, 118; 5/122, 123, 82; 272/85 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 803,091 10/1905 Brayshaw 5/122 1,190,423 /1916 1,814,5797/1931 2,062,069 ll/l936 2,257,831 10/1941 2,670,478 3/1954 Gilfallan5/82 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 426,174 3/1926 Germany 2130/]1.37 J 207,539 2/1940 Switzerland 280/1 1.37 J

Primary Exam iner David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Aportable seat for securement between the upper ends of two ski poleshaving their respective longitudinal axes crossing at an intersectingpoint to distribute the load on the seat substantially along thelongitudinal axes of the ski poles, said portable seat comprising asheet of flexible material, an elongated cylindrical member retained ineach end edge of said sheet, each said end' edge having a loop formedtherein by overlapping and securing said sheet material, saidcylindrical members maintaining said sheet extended widthwise when aload is applied on said sheet and permitting said seat to be folded uponitself for storage in a clothing pocket, a cord like member secured fromthe ends of respective cylindrical members and connectable between theupper ends of said two ski poles to maintain said sheet extendedlengthwise, said cord like member extending a predetermined distancefrom a respective one of said end edges to its attachment point on saidupper end of said two ski poles.

ABSTRACT ll Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEP 2|975 3,902,781

sum 1 or 2 PORTABLE SEAT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION a. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to a seat structure and moreparticularly to a portable seat that can be carried on a person, forexample, in a pant or jacket pocket and easily assembled.

b. Description of the Prior Art Many seat structures of the foldable andportable type are known. However, the majority of these requirespecially designed framework hinged together in order to fold uponitself and provide rigidity to support a person. Most of thesestructures also have four legs, arms and a backrest or variouscombinations of these elements. Because of the construction of theframework, such structures are not portable on a person for example in apant or jacket pocket whereby the person may carry the seat withoutinconvenience and assemble it quickly when required.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a feature of the present invention to providea portable seat which can easily be carried on a person and withoutinconvenience.

It is a further feature to provide a portable seat structure which iseconomical, very light and providing easy assembly.

A still further feature is to provide a portable seat for securementbetween the upper ends of two ski poles having their respectivelongitudinal axes crossing at an intersecting point to distribute theload on the seat substantially along the longitudinal axes of the skipoles, said portable seat comprising a sheet of flexible material, anelongated cylindrical member retained in each end edge of said sheet,each said end edge having a loop formed therein by overlapping andsecuring said sheet material, said cylindrical members maintainingsaid-sheet extended widthwise when a load is applied on said sheet andpermitting said seat to be folded upon itself for storage in a clothingpocket, a cord like member secured from the ends of respectivecylindrical members and connectable between the upper ends of said twoski poles to maintain said sheet extended lengthwise, said cord likemember extending a predetermined distance from a respective one of saidend edges to its attachment point on said upper end of two ski poles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmented plan veiw of the seat portion of the portableseat structure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the seat structure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the seat structure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clamp;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seat portion in its portable form;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented sectional view of the securement means;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a ski pole showing theattachment of the seat; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmented view of a ski pole and the intersection scale. 1

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown generally at 10 theportable seat structure of the present invention. The portable seatstructure 10 comprises a seat portion 1 l of flexible material andhaving securemen't means 12 attached at the opposed ends 13 of the seat11 for detachably securing the seat 11 between two elongated, pole-like,support members 14, hereinshown as ski poles. To provide a sufficientlyrigid structure, the support members 14 intersect one another and aresecured at their intersection with suitable interlocking means 15. Ascan be seen in FIG. 3, the lower ends 16 of the poles 14 are implantedin the surface of the snow or ground 1. Further, a person skiing canassemble the seat structure 10 without removing the skis 18 from hisfeet as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, the seat structure may be easilyassembled anywhere.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat portion 11 is made of a sheet of canvas andmay be overlapped and stitched at the opposed parallel ends 13 about atubing 20 for receiving a cord like member, herein a nylon cord 21,through the tubing 20. The cord 21 is clamped at 19 to form a loop aboutthe tubing and extends along a preferred length 22 therefrom to a rigidloop end 23. The loop end 23 receives a portion of the cord length 22 toform a sliding loop end connector which can be secured adjacent the topend of the elongated support members or poles 14. As shown in FIG. 2,the sliding loop is secured about the ski pole handles 24. The tubing 20is preferably formed of light material, such as aluminum and plastic,and maintains the seat section 25 fully extended along its width, thatis to say, it prevents the seat section 25 from folding widthwise andmaking it uncomfortable to sit on.

To the right of FIG. 1, there is shown a different'embodiment of theseat portion 11. As shown, the end 13 is overlapped and a plurality ofstitched seams are made to reinforce the edge 13. Two or more reinforcedholes 26 are provided adjacent the edge 13 to which is attached asection 27 of cord. The sections are clamped at 28 and the free end ofthe cord length 22 is attached to a connector cup 29 having a cavity 30sufficient diameter to receive the top ends of the support members 14.

The attachment means 15 may be a short section of strapping having asuitable fastener (not shown) to prevent the strap from slipping.Alternatively, a clamp 35 (see FIG. 4) may be provided to secure themember 14. As shown, the clamp 35 consists of two metal or plastic clampsections 36 having angulated channel 37 formed in a surface. Thesections 36 are adjustably secured by means of bolts 38 and wing nuts 39whereby the channels 37 face each other at an angle to secure themembers 14 at an intersection point.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the portable seat structure 10 is dismantled,the seat portion 11 is rolled on itself from one of its ends 13 to forma roll. The roll may then be secured in this position by attaching thecord from the top end 13 thereabout. Alternatively, when the attachmentmeans is in the form of a strap 40 having a lock buckle 41, the strap 40is secured about the rolled seat portion 1 l to form a small rollsuitable for carrying in the pocket of a pant or jacket.

In use, with the securement means 23 attached to the members 14, thecord length 22 extends substantially along the axis of the supportmember 14 whereby the load on the seat portion 11 is distributeddownwardly along the members 14. The poles or members 14 must beconstructed of suitable material to support the load placed on the seatportion 11. Also, it is within the ambit of the present invention toprovide a sheet 11 which is of an oval shape with narrow'opposed ends13. Further, the sheet 11 may have triangular shaped ends 14. In a stillfurther embodiment the sheet 11 may be formed of strips of flexiblematerial webbed transversely and secured between end members to maintainthe sheet extended in its widthwise direction. Still further, the sheetmay be molded of plastic material with the attachment means preformedtherein.

Although in the preferred embodiment the support members 14 are skipoles, it is quite conceivable that other suitable elongated, pole-likemembers may be used. For example, when hiking, camping, etc., themembers may be formed by two wooden poles or branches, or any othersuitable members.

In the preferred embodiment, the seat portion is formed of canvasmaterial and is approximately 6 /2 inches wide and 17 inches long. Thecord secured to the opposed ends of the seat portion extends toapproximately 12 inches beyond the edge 13.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown afurther embodiment of the construction of the seat. Hereinshown thehollow tube 20 which is secured in a respective end edge of the canvasseat 11 is provided with a nylon bushing in each end thereof. Thebushing has a tubular portion 51 having an outer diameter for tight fitin the end of the hollow tube 20. A circumferential flange 52 is formedintegrally with an end of the tubular portion 51. As shown in FIG. 6,the flange extends above the outer surface of the tube 20 and preventsthe canvas, secured about the tube 20, from slipping out of engagementwith the tube.

To secure the seat, there is provided a cord 55 which passes through thehollow tube 20 and is securely knotted at its ends. Before the knot 56is made, the bushings 50 are positioned on the cord 55 so that the knot56 may be positioned within the hollow tube 20. The bushings 50 are thensecured in their respective end of the tube 20. The inner end 53 of eachbushing 50 constitutes an abutment end to prevent the knot 56 fromslipping out of the tube 20. As can be seen, the knot 56 can bedisplaced within the tube along a distance d. This permits an adjustmentof the seat after the attachment end portion 57, of the cord 55 has beensecured to the pole handle 58. This is done by looping the end portion57 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. After the loop is secured theposition of the seat can be adjusted by displacing the tubing over thecord portions between the knot 56 along distance d.

The nylon bushings 50 also protect the cord from metal contact with thetube which would wear the cord.

In order to minimize stress on the support members or ski poles 14, itis important that the weight or load on the seat pushes the poles 14straight into the ground. This is achieved by having the poles intersectat a proper intersecting point. Seeing that there are various lengths ofski poles to suit people of different heights and different types ofskiing, the intersecting point of the poles will vary. To locate theproper intersecting point there is provided a chart 60, herein a stripof paper which can be folded and easily stored away, on which there isprovided a scale 61 indicating various lengths of ski poles. The scaleis positioned in alignment with the ski pole basket 62 and theintersecting point is determined as the area of the pole' adjacent thenumber in the scale 61 corresponding to the length of the pole. Anadhesive identification band 63 is then secured to the pole to indicatethe intersecting point. This band is secured to both poles l4.

The scale 61 on the chart has been predetermined by experimentation. Forexample, for Alpine ski poles the intersecting point for a 44 inch poleis approximately 9% inches from the top of the basket. For a 58 inchpole, the intersecting point is approximately 23 /2 inches from thebasket. Each marking in the scale is spaced 1 inch apart.

For cross-country ski poles the range starts at 8 inches from the basketand extends from 44 inches to 62 inches with the inch markings spaced /1inch apart.

By identifying the intersecting point of the poles it may not benecessary to attach the poles at this point with a strap 15 as shown inFIG. 2 as the weight is distributed substantially along the longitudinalaxis of the poles.

We claim:

1. A portable seat for securement between the upper ends of two skipoles having their respective longitudinal axes crossing at apredetermined intersecting point to transfer and distribute the load ofa person sitting on the seat substantially along the longitudinal axesof the ski poles, said intersecting point being located below said seat,said portable seat comprising a sheet of flexible material, a tuberetained in each end edge of said sheet, each said end edge having aloop formed therein by overlapping and securing said sheet material,each said tube maintaining said sheet extended width-wise when a load isapplied on said sheet and permitting said seat to be folded upon itselffor storage in a clothing pocket, a cord like member passing througheach tube and extending from opposed ends thereof and connectable to theupper end of a respective one of said two ski poles and dependingtherefrom to said tube that it is connected to whereby to maintain saidsheet extended lengthwise between said two ski poles, said cord likemember extending a predetermined distance from its associated tube toits attachment point on said upper end of said ski pole. v

2. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cord like memberis provided with an end connector formed as a sliding loop at the freeend of said cord.

3. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said end connector is acup member secured at the free end of said cord.

4. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cord like memberis an elongated cord passing through a respective one of said tubes andsecured at both ends to form a knot, a bushing secured in a respectiveend of each said tubes, said knot being positioned within said tube andslidingly retained therein between said two bushings whereby said seatcan be adjusted, after said cord is secured between said ski poles.

5. A portable seat as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bushing isprovided with a circumferential flange extending above the outer surfaceof said tube to prevent said loop of said flexible material from slidingoff said tube located in said loop.

6. A portable seat structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidintersecting point is determined by a chart having a scale thereonindicating the location of said intersection point in relation to thelength of said ski pole.

7. A portable seat structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein said chart isaligned with a basket provided on the lower end of the ski pole, saidscale having a gradient for ski poles in the range of from 44 to 58inches, each inch marking in said range being spaced one inch apart withsaid 44 inch marking located approximately 9 /2 inches from the upperedge of said basket.

8. A portable seat structure comprising a seat formed from a sheet offlexible material, said seat comprising a sheet of flexible material, anelongated cylindrical tube retained in each end edge of said sheet, eachsaid end edge having a loop formed therein by overlapping and securingsaid sheet material, said cylindrical member maintaining said sheetextended widthwise when a load is applied on said sheet and permittingsaid seat to be folded upon itself for storage in a clothing pocket, anelongated cord passing through a respective one of said tubes andsecured at both ends to form a knot, 21 bushing secured in a respectiveend of each said tubes, said knot being positioned within said tube andslidingly retained therein between said two bushings whereby said seatcan be adjusted, said cord being connectable between the upper end of arespective one of said two ski poles and depending therefrom to maintainsaid sheet extended lengthwise between said two ski poles, said cordextending a predetermined distance from a respective one of said endedges to its attachment point on said upper end of said two ski poles,said two ski polesintersecting each other at an intersection point belowsaid seat so that said support members are spaced apart at their upperends and lower ends whereby the load on the seat is distributeddownwardly along the longitudinal axis of the ski poles.

9. A portable seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein said poles are attachedtogether at said intersection point by a strap-like attachment means.

10. A portable seat structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein each saidcord terminates in a free end connector for attachment to the upper endof the ski pole.

11. A portable seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bushing isprovided with a circumferential flange extending above the outer surfaceof said tube to prevent said loop of said flexible material from slidingoff said tube located in said loop.

1. A portable seat for securement between the upper ends of two skipoles having their respective longitudinal axes crossing at apredetermined intersecting point to transfer and distribute the load ofa person sitting on the seat substantially along the longitudinal axesof the ski poles, said intersecting point being located below said seat,said portable seat comprising a sheet of flexible material, a tuberetained in each end edge of said sheet, each said end edge having aloop formed therein by overlapping and securing said sheet material,each said tube maintaining said sheet extended width-wise when a load isapplied on said sheet and permitting said seat to be folded upon itselffor storage in a clothing pocket, a cord like member passing througheach tube and extending from opposed ends thereof and connectable to theupper end of a respective one of said two ski poles and dependingtherefrom to said tube that it is connected to whereby to maintain saidsheet extended lengthwise between said two ski poles, said cord likemember extending a predetermined distance from its associated tube toits attachment point on said upper end of said ski pole.
 2. A portableseat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cord like member is providedwith an end connector formed as a sliding loop at the free end of saidcord.
 3. A portable seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endconnector is a cup member secured at the free end of said cord.
 4. Aportable seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cord like member is anelongated cord passing through a respective one of said tubes andsecured at both ends to form a knot, a bushing secured in a respectiveend of each said tubes, said knot being positioned within said tube andslidingly retained therein between said two bushings whereby said seatcan be adjusted, after said cord is secured between said ski poles.
 5. Aportable seat as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bushing is providedwith a circumferential flange extending above the outer surface of saidtube to prevent said loop of said flexible material from sliding offsaid tube located in said loop.
 6. A portable seat structure as claimedin claim 1 wherein said intersecting point is determined by a charthaving a scale thereon indicating the location of said intersectionpoint in relation to the length of said ski pole.
 7. A portable seatstructure as claimed in claim 6 wherein said chart is aligned with abasket provided on the lower end of the ski pole, said scale having agradient for ski poles in the range of from 44 to 58 inches, each inchmarking in said range being spaced one inch apart with said 44 inchmarking located approximately 9 1/2 inches from the upper edge of saidbasket.
 8. A portable seat structure comprising a seat formed from asheet of flexible material, said seat comprising a sheet of flexiblematerial, an elongated cylindrical tube retained in each end edge ofsaid sheet, each said end edge having a loop formed therein byoverlapping and securing said sheet material, said cylindrical membermaintaining said sheet extended widThwise when a load is applied on saidsheet and permitting said seat to be folded upon itself for storage in aclothing pocket, an elongated cord passing through a respective one ofsaid tubes and secured at both ends to form a knot, a bushing secured ina respective end of each said tubes, said knot being positioned withinsaid tube and slidingly retained therein between said two bushingswhereby said seat can be adjusted, said cord being connectable betweenthe upper end of a respective one of said two ski poles and dependingtherefrom to maintain said sheet extended lengthwise between said twoski poles, said cord extending a predetermined distance from arespective one of said end edges to its attachment point on said upperend of said two ski poles, said two ski poles intersecting each other atan intersection point below said seat so that said support members arespaced apart at their upper ends and lower ends whereby the load on theseat is distributed downwardly along the longitudinal axis of the skipoles.
 9. A portable seat as claimed in claim 8 wherein said poles areattached together at said intersection point by a strap-like attachmentmeans.
 10. A portable seat structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein eachsaid cord terminates in a free end connector for attachment to the upperend of the ski pole.
 11. A portable seat as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid bushing is provided with a circumferential flange extending abovethe outer surface of said tube to prevent said loop of said flexiblematerial from sliding off said tube located in said loop.